CVE-2023-53016
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a deadlock vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Bluetooth RFCOMM protocol implementation. An attacker could potentially cause a denial of service by triggering a deadlock between socket and RFCOMM locks, affecting systems with Bluetooth enabled. The vulnerability affects Linux systems with specific kernel versions.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel
📦 What is this software?
Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
System becomes unresponsive or crashes due to deadlock in Bluetooth subsystem, requiring reboot to restore functionality.
Likely Case
Local denial of service affecting Bluetooth functionality, potentially requiring service restart or system reboot.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact if Bluetooth is disabled or unused, or if systems are patched.
🎯 Exploit Status
Discovered by syzbot fuzzer. Exploitation requires local access and ability to interact with Bluetooth RFCOMM sockets.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Patches available in stable kernel branches (see git.kernel.org references)
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/17511bd84871f4a6106cb335616e086880313f3f
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to patched version from your distribution's repositories. 2. Reboot system to load new kernel. 3. Verify kernel version after reboot.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Bluetooth
linuxDisable Bluetooth service to prevent RFCOMM protocol usage
sudo systemctl stop bluetooth
sudo systemctl disable bluetooth
Blacklist Bluetooth kernel module
linuxPrevent Bluetooth kernel module from loading
echo 'blacklist btusb' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-bluetooth.conf
sudo update-initramfs -u
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable Bluetooth functionality completely
- Implement network segmentation to limit Bluetooth device access
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version against your distribution's security advisories. Vulnerable if using unpatched kernel with Bluetooth enabled.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version is updated to patched version and Bluetooth functionality works without deadlocks.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic logs
- Bluetooth subsystem hangs/crashes in system logs
- RFCOMM protocol errors
Network Indicators:
- Bluetooth connection failures
- RFCOMM protocol timeouts
SIEM Query:
Search for kernel panic events or Bluetooth service crashes in system logs